Unit 2

Unit 2: Ancient Civilizations (8,000 B.C.E. - 500 C.E.)

Unit 2 Notes:





Unit 2 Day 1
Topics: Mesopotamia, Ancient Egypt

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Evaluate what it takes to be a civilization.
• Assess the contributions of the early river civilizations, such as Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Quickwrite: What are the advantages and disadvantages of living in a city?

Homework: Read Ch. 2.3 & 2.4

Unit 2 Day 2
Topics: Hittites, Phoenicians, Israelites, Judaism, monotheism, Assyrians, Persians

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Examine new centers of Middle Eastern civilization that rose as Mesopotamia and Egypt declined.
• Assess the basic beliefs and history of Judaism.

Quickwrite: In the early religions of Mesopotamia and Egypt, who or what has control over people's fate?

Homework: Read Ch. 3.1 & 3.2

Unit 2 Day 3
Topics: Ancient India, Indus valley, caste system, Hinduism, Buddhism, Indian empires

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Assess the rise of civilization in India around 2600 BCE.
• Analyze the political, religious, and social systems that developed in Indian civilization.

Quickwrite: Identify two geographical features that impacted life in India.

Homework: Read Ch. 3.3 & 3.4

Unit 2 Day 4
Topics: Ancient China, early dynasties, Mandate of Heaven, Confucianism, Qin and Han empires

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Assess how China developed a culture unique from other early civilizations.
• Analyze how the Qin and Han dynasties established a strong central government in China.

Quickwrite: Identify two geographical features that impacted life in China.

Homework: Read Ch. 4.1 & 4.2

Unit 2 Day 5
Topics: Minoans, Mycenaeans, Early Greeks

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Examine the earliest civilizations of Europe, the Minoans and Mycenaeans.
• Compare how Greek life developed in Athens and Sparta.

Quickwrite: Identify two geographical features that impacted life in ancient Greece.

Homework: Read Ch. 4.3 & 4.4

Unit 2 Day 6
Topics: Classical Greece, Athens, Hellenistic (Greek) culture, Persian wars, Peloponnesian War

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Analyze aspects of Ancient Greek culture.
• Analyze the causes and effects of the Persian-Greek wars.

Quickwrite: Analyze the map on page 119 and answer the "Geography Skills" question #1.

Homework: Read Ch. 4.5 & 5.1

Unit 2 Day 7
Topics: Alexander the Great, spread of Greek culture, Roman Republic, Punic Wars

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Evaluate the effects of the conquests of Alexander the Great.
• Assess the rise and expansion of civilization in Rome.

Quickwrite: Analyze the map on page 135 and answer the "Geography Skills" question #2.

Homework: Read Ch. 5.2 & 5.3

Unit 2 Day 8
Topics: End of the Roman Republic, Julius Caesar, Augustus, Rise of the Roman Empire, Pax Romana

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Analyze the changes that occurred as the Roman Republic became the Roman Empire.
• Evaluate the political, cultural, and economic stability of the Pax Romana period.

Quickwrite: What does the phrase "growing unrest" mean on page 152?

Homework: Read Ch. 5.4 & 5.5

Unit 2 Day 9
Topics: Christianity, Fall of Rome

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Examine the rise of Christianity in Rome.
• Analyze factors that led to the fall of Rome.

Quickwrite: Describe the religion in Rome before Christianity.

Homework: Study for test on Ch. 2-5.

Unit 2 Day 10
Topics: Unit 2 Test tomorrow!

Learning Objectives:
Students will

• Catch up and review for Unit 2 test tomorrow on chapters 2-5.

Quickwrite: How did the emperor Diocletian try to save the Roman Empire?

Homework: Study for test on Ch. 2-5.

Unit 2 Test Day
Homework: Read Ch. 6.1 & 6.2

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Links:
Minoan Art Activity (northwood)